March 2007

Milking performance of China yak (Bos grunniens): A preliminary report

  Yak milk plays a very important role in Tibetan’s daily life. Milk and milk products are the major dietary ingredients as well as family incomes of Tibetan herders in China. Yak milk yield andcomposition are seasonal and affected by the breed, age, parity and body condition of cow, pasture growth and quality, milking time, milking methods and environmental factors. In this paper, milk production...

Author(s):   Shikui Dong, Ruijun Long, Muyi Kang

March 2007

Crop-livestock diversification patterns in relation to income and manure use: A case study from a Rift Valley Community, Kenya

  Most rural households in the semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa practise mixed crop-livestock farming. With population growth and the subsequent scarcity of land available for extensive farming, the only option available for these households is to intensify production. For this to be successful, one must understand the divergent patterns of intensification and their relation to the economic needs of...

Author(s): Miyuki Iiyama, Joseph Maitima and Patrick Kariuki

March 2007

Sources of microbial contamination in tissue culture laboratories in southwestern Nigeria

  Microbial contamination is a constant problem, which often compromise development of all in vitro techniques. This study aimed at investigating the source of microbial contamination in tissue culture laboratories in southwestern Nigeria. Nineteen microbial contaminants (consisting of eleven bacteria and eight fungi) were found associated with the tissue culture plants and the laboratory environments. The...

Author(s):   Odutayo, O. I., Amusa, N. A., Okutade, O. O.  and Ogunsanwo Y.R.

March 2007

Reactions of cowpea to infection by Macrophomina phaseolina isolates from leguminous plants in Nigeria

  The reaction of cowpea to infection by Macrophomina phaseolina isolates, from leguminous plants in Nigeria, was investigated at Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. M. phaseolina isolates obtained from six different leguminous species induced necrotic lesions of varying sizes on  two cowpea varieties, IT83D-340 and IT84D-488. Isolate 93-295 from winged bean(Psophocarpus tetragonoloteus) leaf...

Author(s):   Amusa N.A. Okechukwu R.Uand Akinfenwa B

March 2007

Phytochemical characterization and the antimicrobial property of Aframomum danielli extract

  Characterization of preliminary phytochemical components of Aframomum danielli seeds was determined. Fractions of the seeds obtained by vacuum liquid chromatographic process were tested for antimicrobial activities. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardenolides, carotenoids and polyphenols. All fractions obtained from the petroleum ether extract exhibited antimicrobial...

Author(s):   Fasoyiro, S.B and Adegoke, G.O

March 2007

Effects of variety and row spacing on radiation interception, partitioning of dry matter and seed set efficiency in late season sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in a humid zone of Nigeria

  In the tropics, crops sown in the late season are subjected to concurrent stresses of high air and soil temperatures, large saturation vapour pressure deficits and negligible soil water regimes. The responses of three sunflower cultivars to row spacing was analysed in terms of radiation interception and use, plant to plant variability, biomass accumulation and seed set efficiency during the late seasons of...

Author(s):   Agele, S. O. , Maraiyesa, I. O. and Adeniji, I. A

March 2007

Soil moisture and its consequences under different management in a six year old hedged agroforestry demonstration plot in semi-arid Kenya, for two successive contrasting seasons

  Hedged agroforestry (AF) demonstration plots with maize/bean intercrops were studied at Matanya in Laikipia district, Kenya, between 1991 and 1995 inclusive, to understand crop yield behaviour due to selected soil moisture conservation methods applicable in semi-arid areas. The treatments were: Grevillea robusta trees root pruned, compared to unpruned, both in combination with (1) minimum tillage and mulching...

Author(s):   S. B. B. Otengi, C. J. Stigter, J.K. Ng&#;anga and H. Liniger

March 2007

Effects of the soil texture and the burying depth of the larvae on some biological parameters of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Trypetidae)

  We have studied the effect of the soil texture and the different depths on the emergence rate, the duration of pupation and the sex-ratio of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. Three different texture of soil have been tested: clay loam, silty clay loam and sandy loam. As far as the depth of burying of the larva is concerned, we have tested six varied depths from 2 to 20 cm.The results have...

Author(s):   Ali Ahmed D, Soltani N , Kellouche A, Mazouzi F

March 2007

Comparative productivity of nitrogen-use efficient and nitrogen-inefficient maize cultivars and traditional grain sorghum in the moist Savanna of West Africa

  Strategies to cope with low fertilizer use in West Africa include choice of crop (that is., sorghum vs. maize) and the development of nitrogen-use efficient maize (Zea mays L.) varieties. A two-year field study was undertaken to compare the N response of an N-use efficient maize (hybrid, cv. 8644-27) and a nitrogen-inefficient maize (cv. TZB-SR), and to compare the productivity of the two cultivars with...

Author(s):   S.O. Oikeh, V.O. Chude, G. J. Kling and W. J. Horst